Cans for Pets

Cans for Pets is a Pennsylvania Resources Council project aimed to aid shelter animals through responsible recycling. Together with Alcoa Foundation, Cans for Pets works with shelters across the country to increase aluminum pet food can recycling rates and raise funds for homeless animals – for every aluminum pet food can recycled, 5 cents is donated to a local shelter!

These funds help dogs, cats, and other animals stay comfortable and healthy until they find their forever homes. Whether these funds help to provide medical care for animals in Pennsylvania and Indiana, food for animals in Tennessee, or adoption support in Texas and Iowa, this project is a win-win – helping homeless animals while benefiting our environment.

Since its launch in November 2012, Cans for Pets has facilitated the recycling of over 300,000 aluminum pet food cans across the United States – keeping over 6 THOUSAND pounds of aluminum in circulation and out of landfills.

The pilot program of Cans for Pets ended in April 2015. The program will continue at the following shelters:

San Antonio Humane Society in San Antonio, TX

Vanderburgh Humane Society in Evansville, IN

Young-Williams Animal Center in Knoxville, TN

How Can I Get Involved?

Community members can get involved by recycling their clean empty aluminum pet food cans at designated drop off locations in participating cities. For every aluminum pet food can recycled through this program, Alcoa Foundation will donate 5 cents to a local animal shelter!

These funds help dogs, cats, and other animals stay comfortable and healthy until they find their forever homes.

How can you tell if your can is aluminum? It’s easy, just use a magnet. If the magnet does not stick, the can is aluminum.

Want to conserve aluminum in other ways? Be sure to recycle aluminum beverage cans and other aluminum products with your municipality’s regular curbside recycling pickup. If your municipality does not offer a recycling curbside pickup or drop-off location, contact us at infowest@prc.org for alternative recycling options.

Members of the public, animal shelters, and community members across the country are encouraged to implement Cans for Pets programs in their towns! Learn more about how to start your own chapter of Cans for Pets here!

Why Recycle Aluminum?

Aluminum is one of the most valuable materials in the recycling bin. Aluminum is infinitely recyclable and recycling this material can save a lot of energy and resources. In fact, it takes approximately 95% less energy to make a product out of recycled aluminum than out of raw materials.

Unfortunately, according to an industry survey, an estimated 65% of aluminum beverage cans are recycled compared to only 20% of aluminum beverage cans. The Cans for Pets project aims to increase the recycling of aluminum pet food cans to save energy, resources, and landfill space, while generating crucial resources for shelter animals.

Pittsburgh, PA - Animal Rescue League & Wildlife Center

All Cans for Pets collections in the Pittsburgh area benefit the Animal Rescue League & Wildlife Center. Learn more about the shelter and adoptable animals here.

Please note that the Animal Rescue League has stopped accepting aluminum cans as of April 2015. Please recycle your aluminum pet food cans with your regular curbside or drop-off recycling.